Ghislaine Maxwell refuses to testify as defense rests case in sex abuse trial

Closing arguments in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial are expected on Monday in federal court in Manhattan. The jury would then begin deliberations.

Ghislaine Maxwell’s defense rested its case in her sex abuse trial on Friday after the British socialite told the judge prosecutors had not proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

In two days of testimony from former employees of Jeffrey Epstein, a psychologist specializing in memory, and an ex-girlfriend of the late financier, the defense sought to undercut the testimony of four women who said Maxwell set them up for sexual abuse by Epstein when they were teenagers.

Maxwell, 59, pleaded not guilty to eight counts of sex trafficking and other crimes. Her attorneys argued she is being scapegoated for Epstein’s conduct. Epstein killed himself in 2019 at the age of 66 in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex crimes charges.

Maxwell told U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan that she would not testify in her own defense on Friday.

“Your honor, the government has not proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt and so there is no need for me to testify,” said Maxwell, standing up in the courtroom.

Maxwell’s attorney Bobbi Sternheim wrapped her arm around her back as she spoke. Defendants in U.S. criminal trials are not required to testify, and often do not, since the burden of proof is on prosecutors.

Closing arguments in the trial are expected on Monday in federal court in Manhattan. The jury would then begin deliberations.

Nathan advised jurors to “be cautious out there” before sending them home for the weekend. COVID-19 cases are on the rise in New York, and Nathan earlier on Friday said she wanted to avoid “unnecessary delays” to the trial.